No, When Does The Movie REALLY Start?

from the not-just-the-commercials dept

The number of advertisements that show before a movie begins has been growing over time. People joke about how the actual movie doesn't start until half an hour after the official time -- leading some people to simply show up late, knowing they won't actually be missing anything. It appears that a Connecticut state representative is fed up with this as well, and is suggesting legislation that would require movie theaters to admit what time a movie really started, so that patrons could plan accordingly.

On the one hand...

While, as a consumer, I'd be very happy to see this happen, I have to say that I'm fed up with the government on any level wasting time with pointless legislation. I think that eventually theaters will pull their collective head out of the sand and give the customers what they want.

Re: On the one hand...

I agree with Seth - the consumer in me goes "damn right", but the Adam Smith in me says "this is for the market to decide, not the government."

But why deal with the commercials, people talking during the movie, and other problems when the DVD comes out in less than 12 months these days? Other than 1-2 movies a year that you HAVE to see on "big screen", there really isn't much reason to go to a theater any more.

No Subject Given

Ads suck. It used to be 15 minutes of previews, but now we get that *and* 60 second full screen commercial advertisements and the pathetic 60 second "Don't download that movie!" schlop from the losers at the MPAA. Patronizing crap. When i saw "Lord of the Rings:Return of the King" I had to sit through no less than 4 advertisements, 2 MPAA spots, 15 minutes of previews, the typical pre-movie "THX" bit, and then the animation reminding you of the "no cell phone" rule.

I was pretty irritated by the time the movie started.

It's time to force theatres to cut out the crap like that. I don't pay $10/ticket to see fucking *advertisements* and the MPAA guilt trip shoved in my face.

Time shifter

Count me as one of the ones who just shows up late for the few movies I go to see. The wife and I do like the movie theater though. Despite its many flaws. I wouldn't mind seeing MA follow CT's lead on this one, despite any libertarian leanings I have.

No Subject Given

I don't go to the cinema anymore due to the $10+ pricetag and the fact that Hollywood doesn't make films worth paying $10 to watch in an uncomfortable cinema.

Anyway, I'm also peeved about the unskippable trailers on the beginning of DVD's, some players can be hacked to allow you to skip them, but the only other alternative is to rip the movie from the DVD to a DVD-R.

Why are so many things like this forced on us (mainly by the MPAA I notice) that Government doesn't do anything about?

The 20

The reel of advertisements that you see in most major chains is called "The 20." And it's not going away anytime soon...United Artists Theaters (aka Regal Cinemas) attributed nearly 50% of their operating revenues to "The 20." From their 10K filing:

"Total other operating revenues increased $55.5 million, or 56.5%, to $153.7 million for the Fiscal 2003 Period, from $98.2 million for the Fiscal 2002 Period. Included in other operating revenues are on-screen advertising revenues, meetings and events, marketing revenues from our vendor marketing programs and game revenues. The increase in other operating revenues was primarily attributable to increases in advertising and meetings revenues generated by Regal CineMedia"

I once called their corporate office to complain about "The 20", and had asked the gentleman on the phone how many customers had ever called to complain about it. He said: "You're the only one."Their 10K filing goes on to state that Regal has huge (and expensive) holdings in its real estate and lease obligations to a great enough degree that it threatens the stability of the company. Hence, they're going to be pushing more advertising in the faces of their customers.Perhaps we need to take our voices directly to those selling our eyeballs out from underneath us. In that spirit, here's the contact info for the Regal Advertising folks:Toll Free: 800.828.2828Phone: 303.792.8705Fax: 303.792.8606Give 'em a call.

Re: The 20

" The 2wenty is a larger-than-life pre-show adding unique and special entertainment to the REG movie-going experience

The 2wenty is quality entertainment supplied by our four content partners:

We are digitizing 4,801 screens in 437 theatres (top 69 markets), to be completed by February 2004. By creating the ONLY national Digital Content Network, Regal CineMedia is revolutionizing in-cinema advertising through:

• Production Savings – No cost for transfer to film in top 69 digital markets• Flexibility – Can add tags, split creative by rating, schedule multiple spots in one flight• Enhanced Proof of Performance – Will be able to monitor advertising in flight and adjust accordingly."

Re: The 20

Why I try very hard to not go to the AMC's in San Jose area, latterly like 20 minutes of TV grade commercials. Instead I go to the century and give them my hard earned dollar, they show trailers and I'm down with that. I owned a replay, and now a TV, I'm willing to do almost anything to avoid commercials. Including not going to the movies at all... I wonder if somebody is going to catch on that they are slowing going to kill the movie goose that laid gold with this crap.

No Subject Given

Re: You get what you pay for ...

Well, while annoying people are anywhere you go, this one guy in my town figured out something right and opened up a theater pub. He takes recent movies (about 3 months old from their release date) and puts them up in his renovated older theater. The sound isn't near as good as the new theaters, but here's the cool part:

Movie tickets are $3, popcorn is $1-$2, sodas are about the same, and you can order sandwich wraps or pizza slices for cheap. Oh, and you can get beer.

The cool thing about this place is by the time you've ate a meal and watched a movie on a big screen, it's the same price as if you went to the newer theaters to watch a movie and bought a large popcorn and water. It is of course getting more and more popular as people realize it's a better alternative to the new/expensive theaters.

Re: You get what you pay for ...

While they're at it, why not legislate the quality of movies. Perhaps showing "Garfield: the movie" should actually be illegal. I think having sticky floors should now be against the law, too, I hate when that happens. And what about that part of the theater where you walk in from the back and go around either the left or the right side of the seats, it usually smells very bad in there. Surely, a few more regulations will fix that problem. Why should I have to drive 2 more blocks to a theater that smells better when we can simply make that illegal?